14. Right to information and confidentiality
The provisions on administrative transparency also apply to the Industrial PhD programme. The provisions generally distinguish between the parties’ right of access to documents in cases that concern themselves and the public’s right of access to documents in every case.
The right of access to documents does not apply to information about individuals’ private circumstances, technical devices etc., if it is financially imperative to the person or company concerned that the information is withheld. The right of access to documents may also be limited to the extent necessary to protect private and public interests, ie. when warranted by considerations of secrecy or other special circumstances.
Each case must consider specifically whether it is plausible that public access to information could be damaging to that party’s interests, ie. the opportunity to exploit the results commercially in the short or long term.
